HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-034 Contract - CDR Labor Law
January 8, 2025
Via Email to: jordan.rooklyn@ashland.or.us
City of Ashland
Attn: Jordan Rooklyn, Deputy City Manager
20 East Main St.
Ashland, OR 97520
RE: Engagement of Services
Dear Ms. Rooklyn:
This letter will confirm that CDR Labor Law, LLC has agreed to represent the City of
Ashland (Ðthe CityÑ) for the purpose of providing legal assistance specific to a Petition
for Representation that was filed by LiUNA Local 727 Laborers union, as well as any
ongoing labor and employment law-related advice and representation as directed by the
City and accepted by CDR. We look forward to working with you and will do our best to
provide the highest-quality legal services in a responsive, efficient manner.
Fundamental to a sound relationship is a clear understanding of the terms and conditions
upon which we will be providing legal services. Accordingly, the purpose of this letter is
to set out these terms and conditions.
Staffing
I will be the primary attorney working on your matters. We may also assign certain tasks
to our paralegal, Ashley Andreasen, our associate attorney, Lauren Lewis, or other firm
attorneys as appropriate. We also may seek input or assistance from other attorneys at our
firm where appropriate.
At times, we may suggest that we consult with another lawyer or professional outside our
firm about issues in a matter. Before one of us does this, we will discuss the issue with
you and ask you to decide whether you want to retain the lawyer or professional as a
consultant.
It is important that you are completely satisfied with our services and responsiveness at
all times. If questions or comments arise about our services, staffing, billings, or other
aspects of our representation, please contact me. My direct dial number is (503) 523-
0489, and my email address is jon@cdrlaborlaw.com.
AttorneyÓs Fees and Costs
Our fees for legal services are $375 per hour for me, the partners and other of counsel
attorneys, $295 per hour for associates, and $195 per hour for our paralegal, plus any
CDR LABOR LAW
City of Ashland
January 8, 2025
expenses incurred, such as filing fees, deposition charges, arbitrator or mediator fees,
court reporter costs, copying costs, postage, travel costs and related expenses. Upon
request, we will promptly provide you with a detailed estimate of our costs to handle any
specific matter. These types of estimates are subject to unforeseen circumstances and are
by their nature inexact, so we cannot be bound by any such estimates unless otherwise
agreed to by us in writing.
We adjust our rate from time to time generally to reflect the increased experience and
special expertise of our attorneys and paralegal and the inflationary cost increases
associated with maintaining our practice. Any adjusted rates will apply to all services
performed after we provide you with notice of the change.
The billing rate multiplied by the time spent on your behalf, measured in tenths of an
hour, will be evaluated by the billing attorney as the basis for determining the fee. Each
month we will furnish you with a statement describing our services and our fees and
separately showing disbursements and other charges in a format and with such detail as
we agree upon. There often is an unavoidable delay in reporting disbursements and other
charges, and therefore not all disbursements and charges may be billed at the same time
as the related legal services.
Responsibilities
Our goal is to provide you with conscientious, competent, and diligent legal services. We
will provide legal counsel and assistance to you in accordance with this letter, keep you
informed of progress and developments, and respond to your inquiries.
However, we cannot achieve this goal without your full assistance and cooperation. To
enable us effectively to render these services, you agree to fully and accurately disclose
to us accurate and complete facts, information and written materials relating to a matter,
and to keep us apprised of developments relating to the matter. You also will assist and
cooperate with us as appropriate in dealing with the matter.
Termination
You may terminate our services at any time upon delivery of written notice to us stating
that you wish to terminate this agreement. If you terminate our services, we may bill and
will be paid for all fees and costs incurred to termination. Unless we specifically agree to
do so in writing, we will not be obligated to perform any further services or advance any
expenses after receipt of your notice of termination.
Similarly, we reserve the right to withdraw from our representation if the terms of this
engagement letter are not honored, if our amounts billed are not paid in a timely manner,
if our advice is not followed, if you do not cooperate with us in our representation, or if
any other fact or circumstance arises that would, in our view, impair an effective
attorney-client relationship or would render our continuing representation unlawful or
unethical.
In the event of a termination, you will take all steps necessary to free us of any obligation
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CDR LABOR LAW
City of Ashland
January 8, 2025
to perform further, including signing any documents (including forms for substitution of
counsel) to complete our withdrawal, and we will be entitled to be paid for all services
rendered and disbursements and other charges made or incurred on your behalf prior to
the date of withdrawal.
On behalf of the firm, we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with you. If you
have any questions, please call or email me.
If this letter correctly reflects your understanding of the terms and conditions of our
representation, please confirm your acceptance by signing this document in the space
provided below and return it to our office. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Rue
I have read this letter and consent to it.
Executed and Agreed on behalf of the City of Ashland
Kbo!9-!3136
By: Date:
Sabrina Cotta, City Manager
4862-9708-9678, v. 1
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